Nothing like a little healthy debate... lol

So there is a story behind this post that you need before you can fully understand why this came about.

I was on facebook posting information about my exhibition up on the walls of arts and disability organisations. When I was on the facebook page for the Dont DISS my ABILITY campaign there was a number of post form a person who I will refer to as Miss Black but you can easily go on to this facebook page and see for yourself...lol
Miss Black had been for a number of weeks holding a so called protest about this service tho she cant explain what exactly for and why. I decided to make a comment on one of her post knowing to well that she would target me back and that I had just posted the link to my work up. Bellow is the debate I had with her about my work...

My Post:

Male Female Disabled an exhibition that challenges societies perception of people with disabilities and the use of disabalist language.
Currently showing during the Adelaide Fringe Festival.
For more information and to view and order images please visit
www.mfdisabled.weebly.com
Your feedback is welcome no matter what your opinion :-)

Miss Black

‎@Angela

You state, "I would also like to worn you that some people may find some of the pieces offensive or rude, please understand that this work is meant to create a shock impact be it positive or negative."

Your English is faulty here al...so, it should be 'warn' not 'worn'. And I am wondering why you consider it ok for you to make provocative pieces but not ok for me to do the same? It looks like double standards to me or do you also "have a big chip?"

Why are cashing in on disability to gain attention for your art? Did you receive funding for this?

Angela Kara:

I think its sad that you have to pick on my faulty english that this is the first thing you saw and felt it necessary to target me on it. But if that makes you feel like a bigger person that is fine.

I am picking on societies perception of p...eople with disabilities and the language we use to describe those with disabilities.

You are picking on an already under funded service and trying to use up any time they have on your trivial personal vendetta.

Have you not been around the arts sector or disability arts sector before. Everyone uses there experiences to create there are be it race, education, language, death, love even so called trivial experience. Why should I not use my disability to express myself. and if I get some money for my work is that a bad thing.
I have never profited from my work and resent the fact that you think I dont have the right to make money from my work.
I have never used my disability in fact I have been an exhibiting artist for 4 years and have never used my disability never applied for funding. This is the first time I have used my disability and I have had been holding of on creating this work for years. I have many people push me to create this and I am proud of being able to express myself in this way.

I did not receive any funding for this exhibition and never apply for any all self funded and if you read the page I am actual donating money to a disability service in SA.

Blakk be part of the solution not the problem...

Miss Black:

Looking at your exhibition I can only hope that it was not subsidised by a government grant, ie another waste of taxpayer's funds. One of my objections is to able bodied persons using funding that would be better spent providing real concrete assistance instead of using disability as an advertising technique. If you are not seriously disabled yourself ie with a broken fcking spine then you have no business entering this debate. And for the record, the work is very derivative of Kruger. Nothing original here.

Angela Kara:

OMG you have a serious problem... why would I create work that is about my experience with disability if I didnt have a disability.... that would be ridiculously inappropriate.

If you bothered to read my web page you would understand that my work comes from my disability and that its about society.

Its sad that you feel such resentment toward the world and feel the need to target me.

The government is waiting there money on such things as a tram line new football oval taking away funds from hospitals and your biggest issue is they might have given me money that would of been a waste of funds... PRIORITIES ......

So me attempting to educate society about disabalist language and there treatment of people with disabilities is a bad idea.... is that what your saying? Or you dont approve of the way I chose to get my message across? Maybe an angry letter or harassing disability services on facebook might of been a better way.

I think our government is underfunding the disability sector and am disappointed in them just as much as you.

Thanks for your feedback though your the first person who assumed I must be able bodied and that had 'negative' feedback for me.

Angela Kara:

Whats your Disability? and what services do you use?

Angela Kara

Oh and if you had bothered to read my web page and not just look at the pictures you would of seen that Kruger was my main inspiration to my work and if you knew anything about Kruger you would also know that she uses vintage images in her ...work and her text is opposite colours to what I use.
And I would also like to add that there are no original ideas that anything you can think of has been thought of before...
Everything you are targeting me on here could of easily been answered if you had just read web sight ...

So I find this conversation just amusing she has no real point and all her protest on my work is answered on my web page which she clearly did not read.

Though I did learn one thing about myself when involved in the conversation late last night... When she accused me of being able bodied I was really offended.... lol.... that has to be the first time I have felt such a way I have always wanted to be 'normal' and hated having all these issues but have excepted that this is how it is. When I was accused of being one of those able bodied people who say to you "I understand how you feel" I was mad and was like how dear she accuse me of being normal... how offensive ...lol

This is a big step for me I think I finally feel like I have really excepted who I am and can stand up proud.

If you have any feed back I would love to hear from you.

Evangelia Karageorgos

The Opening

Well I know I have been a bit slack and letting you know about the opening, I have had a lot on with orders and feedback.

The Opening went fabulous I had about 30 people turn up and most were people I did not know and also had experiences with disability.
I got lots of fabulous feedback and made some sales witch is always a great thing.

The fanny thing about the day, that was not so funny on the day was the fact that we had been given the wrong key so we could not get in and though I had the grounds mans number it was one number short so I had to call 4 wrong people and ask if they were Ian... lol
Eventually we did get in an hour late rushed everything together and had no other issues that day....

I am so glad that my work has been well received and I have met some absolutely awesome people. I hope this work with continue to inspire and provoke people and will continue to be success full.

On a Final note Bedford did an absolute marvelous job with the catering everyone loved it.

The exhibition is up till the end of the fringe festival so if your in Adelaide get down and see it in person.
If you would like to buy any of the pieces write down the name and how you want it and send me a message via the contact tab above.

Hope you are all doing fabulous till next time

Evangelia Karagoegos

Can Disability Be Sexy?

Can Disability Be Sexy?By

By Michelle Diament May 14, 2010
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/05/14/can-disability-be-sexy/8048/

A series of photographs spoofing the often racy advertisements from clothing retailer American Apparel is questioning traditional ideas of beauty in a most provocative way.

The photos are of Jes Sachse, a 25-year-old Canadian college student with a rare genetic condition known as Freeman-Sheldon syndrome. She has unique facial features, a curved spine and her right leg is a bit shorter than her left, but Sachse is not lacking in attitude.

The series dubbed “American Able” includes 13 recreations of actual American Apparel ads. In one called “Tight,” Sachse appears in a leotard to strut her stuff before an oversized window. In another ad called “Workout,” Sachse is shown wearing nothing more than a headband and green shorts.

The work produced by Sachse’s friend, photographer Holly Norris, 21, is appearing in Toronto subway stations this month on more than 270 electronic screens as part of a photography festival.

“What I hope comes of this is that people can view disability differently and see that people with disabilities are sexual,” Sachse says. “So many people are trying to come to my aid and protect me from being exploited and they want to prevent disabled people from living their lives.”

The project began nearly two years ago as an assignment for a women and popular culture class that Norris was taking as an undergraduate at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. Norris thought it would be fun to spoof American Apparel advertising, because the company claims that models in its print ads are just normal, everyday girls, though they all seem to share similar body types.

“This idea of who is beautiful and what’s sexy that we see in the media all the time isn’t necessarily what beauty is to me or to you,” says Norris, who received permission from American Apparel to display the work publicly.

As a child, Sachse says she was taught to deny that she was different. But over the years she instead developed pride in her body. Most of the clothing used in the photos actually belongs to Sachse who says she likes to dress stylishly.

“I look confident in the photos and I look just how I feel about the work, about the idea, about my body,” she says.

Male Femal Disabled Official Opening

Click on image to enlarge and see the details...
Visit the official Web page for more information
www.mfdisabled.weebly.com

Language guide

This is an article I came across on language and disability. I think this is a great article and relates to my work. I have included the web address for you all, but I have also copied the information here for you to read.

Language guide

http://www.dontdismyability.com.au/language_guide

What's Hot & What's Not

This useful list of common courtesies and tips is an extract from our handy pocket guide, What's Hot & What's Not, specially designed for Don't DIS my ABILITY.

People with a disability lead everyday lives. They go to school, go to work, get married, have children and excel in society like everyone else. Here are some A-Z tips and common courtesies to think about next time you are talking to, writing about or socialising with a person with a disability.
Remember the person always comes first!

If you would like copies of the handy pocket guide please contact us. Or you can download What's Hot & What's Not here.

Ability

When communicating with or about people with a disability remember they may have only one disability—but they have many abilities.

A paraplegic, a haemophiliac

The use of ‘A' before the noun categorises the person based on their disability. Use person with haemophilia, man who has paraplegia.

Abnormal or sub-normal

Not acceptable. Use people or person with a disability.

Afflicted with or suffering from

Most people with a disability do not see themselves as afflicted or suffering.

Assistance

Always ask a person with a disability if they need help before rushing in.

Blind

Use only to describe a person who really is blind. In other cases use person with vision impairment.

Confined to a wheelchair

A wheelchair is not confining, it provides mobility to those who can't walk.

Cripple

Only to be used as part of a direct quote or an organisation's name.

Deaf

Only use if a person really is Deaf. In other cases use person with a hearing impairment.

Defect

Not acceptable. Use congenital disability, blind from birth.

Disabled

Use people or person with a disability, not disabled person. The person always comes first.

Disabled toilet or disabled parking space

The toilet or car park is not disabled! Use accessible toilet or accessible parking space.

Fits

The preferred term is seizures.

Guide dogs

Never pat or touch a guide dog while the dog is working or when the dog is in its harness. Always ask permission and remember that sometimes the owner may say no.

Handicap

This word should only be used to describe the obstacles that restrict an individual's participation, e.g. a person is handicapped by the lack of accessible transport.

Intellectual disability

Terms such as mongol, retard or mentally retarded are outdated. Use people with an intellectual disability.

Mental illness

Do not use insane, lunatic, mad or crazy. Use mental illness or the appropriate clinical name. e.g. person with schizophrenia.

Mongolism

Use person with Down syndrome.

Normal

This is a statistical term. Use person without a disability or terms such as sighted or hearing.

Patient

Should only be used when a person is actually receiving medical care. Use the same adjective as you would for a person without a disability.

Patronising language

Don't describe people as brave, special or suffering. Disability is part of
everyday life.

People with disabilities

Can imply that people have more than one disability. Use people with a disability.

Psychiatric disability

Can be used to describe a mental illness. Don't use insane, lunatic, mad or crazy.

Retarded

Derogatory, outdated and unacceptable—instead use people with an intellectual disability.

Spastic

Derogatory, outdated and unacceptable, unless used as part of an organisation's name. In most cases person with cerebral palsy is the acceptable alternative.

Sufferer

People don't suffer just because they have a disability.

The blind, the deaf

Avoid using ‘the' in this manner as it unconsciously eliminates the person and creates a generalisation based purely on disability.

Vegetables

Are what you cook and eat—not people who are unconscious or in a coma.

Victim

People are victims of war, crime or exploitative wages. People with a disability prefer not to be referred to as victims.

Visual impairment

Implies a person is unattractive to look at! Use vision impairment or sight
impairment.

Wheelchair user

When talking to a person who uses a wheelchair place yourself at eye level. Do not push anyone who uses a wheelchair unless you are asked.

DADHC would like to thank Link Disability Magazine (linkonline.com.au) for developing this list.

Found this article in the November issue of Link Magazine. It is on language which reminded me of my work for my upcoming exhibition. I just had to share it with all of you.
Enjoy

(Click on image to enlarge and then you should be able to zoom in and reed it.)

Now this article reminds me of every time I go shopping...
Here is the link to the article, but I have also posted the whole thing bellow for you to read...
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/living/up-close-personal/people-say-the-strangest-things

People say the strangest things

Fed up of the odd, personal, random, annoying or just plain rude questions total strangers feel able to ask her, Emma Crees has decided to take retaliatory action

This may sound bizarre, but I’m giving serious thought to going up to strangers on the street and asking them very personal questions! I don’t know why but people see my wheelchair and ask me all sorts of personal questions. I figured I should take advantage of this new craze to ask questions of strangers.

Questions about why I’m in a wheelchair are common. People have wondered, “what happened to you?” and I’ve not realised what they meant.

I was checking if my clothes were done up, did I have food round my mouth when they clarified “the wheelchair” as if it was obvious.

A man on holiday asked me “from what point down don’t you work?” I sat there staring at him, then eventually told him that I couldn’t really say. He was surprised by that, but I was shocked by the question.

When I’m out people stop me to ask if I know where Shopmobility is. I understand that a powerchair-user is an obvious person to ask. Or where my chair is from – I’ve done the same to other disabled people as I’m always on the look out for cool wheelchairs. The man who then went on to ask, “as you’re by yourself how will you manage if you need the loo?” went too far though! I snapped “perfectly well” then took off.

It’s not just me either. A friend was asked how she had sex in a wheelchair. She said she didn’t. We’re still not sure if the person got what she meant.

I’ve heard of disabled people being told they should wear black armbands so they stand out, and of others who were told not to have children “in case they’re like you.”

One of the bad things about all the things people say is the way it takes an ordinary day and makes it all about my disability. I’m doing my shopping and it’s all fine until I suddenly have to deal with a staff member saying, “I hope you get better soon.”

Personally, I don’t want a cure. There’s nothing wrong with my being in a wheelchair!

The worst thing is the way I always think of the good response ages afterwards. Once on a train with my dad he was asked about me. One of the questions was “can she hear and speak?” I wish I’d replied, “I did just hear how rude you were.”

I answer most people but sometimes I’d prefer not to. I don’t know how to stop it and that makes me mad! Hopefully one day it’ll stop but in the meantime if you see a wheelchair-user going up to people asking if they need help, when they last had sex or such like, it’s probably me. Come say hi (just don’t ask silly questions!)

..................................
The only thing I have personally to add is when strangers or sometimes people I know pat me on the head.... like WTF.... I am not your pet I am a person...

I think for me personally because I only use my wheelchair for longer distances there is lot of our family and friends who have not seen me using it. And then when I suddenly turn up with it they seam stumped...lol
But patting me on the head to say hello or good bye is not exceptable because of this.

Also because I am a little person... or as I like to put it a Midget which most little people hate being called. I often get mistaken as a child and people talk to me in that high pitched voice you use when talking to children... its so annoying.
One time I was out with my mum at a car show and I was taking photos with my big Digital SLR and this lady said "who would give there child such an expensive camera" so I turned around and said 'this child saved and bought this expensive camera herself'... she looked so shocked... People should not judge or at least do it quietly so I can not overhear...
Now though I have more tattoos and 3 piercings in my face, so most people now start treating me like a child then while looking at me realise they have made a mistake...lol
Its sad that it takes tattoos and piercings to get people to treat me like and adult... but I did not get them because of that I got them because I like them and wanted them I have always been the one to try and stand out...